GERMAN VALLEY, Ill. (WIFR) – German Valley could get $5 million to improve its wastewater infrastructure. Seven years ago, German Valley completely overhauled its wastewater treatment plant, costing $3 million. Now, the village of 450 people, which is seeking another $5 million to upgrade its wastewater treatment plant, needs government help.

“If we don’t address this immediate need, German Valley is going to become a ghost town,” said 17th District Representative Eric Sorensen.

Village President Mark Jewell says German Valley doesn’t have $5 million to solve its sewage problem, so he contacted Sorensen.

“On average, people are already paying over $100 a month for their water. They can’t pay $300 a month or they’re going to move,” Sorensen says.

The request has been considered by the House of Representatives. But it still has to go through the Senate and then reach the president’s desk.

“Pending approval, they’ll probably start planning next year,” Jewell says. “And then we hope to start actual construction in 2026.”

Jewell said one step in the project would be to deepen the existing lagoons. The current depth of the lagoons does not keep the water warm enough in the winter, which creates problems with the treatment plant.

“Right now, the ventilation is not working, so we need to make sure that we upgrade facilities that haven’t been upgraded in over 50 years,” Sorensen said. “The federal government is telling us that this is a problem of today and we’re going to step in and fix it.”

On Thursday, Sorensen was scheduled to travel to Rockford to announce a new $1.1 million request to clean up Rockford’s drinking water. The event has been postponed and a new date has not yet been announced.

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